Crossfire: The Plot That Killed Kennedy (120 page)

The Kennedy assassination was a true coup d'etat-a sudden and violent
shift of power to the right in this country. And that power-though
weakened by revelations of corruption and unachieved goals-remains
with us today.

Few people have shown a willingness to confront and accuse this power.
But until the people of the United States confront the reality of Kennedy's
death and face the power behind it, the wars, near-wars, the wasteful
military buildup, foreign adventurism, death, squandered millions, trampled human rights, moral decline, and environmental pollution will continue.

The way to this confrontation lies within each individual citizen-in our
minds and-perhaps more important-in our hearts.

One can almost hear the sad spirit of John F. Kennedy whispering from
Dealey Plaza:

Et tu, Lyndon?

In a work such as this, extensive footnoting within the text can often impede
the flow of ideas, reducing comprehension.

There are further problems in the case of the JFK assassination. Neither the
Warren Commission's twenty-six volumes or the volumes and appendices of
the House Select Committee on Assassinations-a total of fifty-five volumeswere adequately indexed, creating a time-consuming nightmare for serious
researchers. Additionally, too often official government reports do not accurately reflect the actual evidence or statements of witnesses. This situation
complicates effective documentation.

Major statements in this work or ones that contradict the official version of
the assassination are attributed in this section. Usually only one reference is
given although multiple sources may be found for most points.

Any statements without attribution or a source listing indicate historical fact
or issues which are undisputed among the majority of credible assassination
researchers. For example, it is unnecessary to document Richard Nixon's
crucial role in initiating the Bay of Pigs invasion since various historians have
already documented that role and Nixon himself has written about it.

In the case of controversies-such as the identity of a man photographed in
the front doorway of the Texas Schoolbook Depository during the assassinationevery effort has been made to present both sides of the issue.

Accounts of witnesses sometimes represent a synthesis of their words from
more than one source. It should be pointed out that just because a statement is
attributed to some source does not make that statement true. People's accounts
can result from mistakes as well as lies due to fear and intimidation.

Many sources in this section are cited simply by author, title, and page
number. Complete data on the books cited can be found in the Selected
Bibliography.

WC Report refers to the Warren Commission Report, while its attendant
hearings and exhibits will be referred to by volume and page-for example
XXII.644. Similarly, the House Select Committee on Assassinations volumes
will appear as HSCA VIII.64.

It is significant to add that while all assassination works-including this
book-must rely heavily on official government reports and publications, such
reports can often be called into question. Therefore the burden of separating
fact from fiction must unfortunately fall on the reader. This sad fact necessitates access to the broadest amount of information, often going far beyond
official sources.

Page

3 JFK's affair with Inga Arvad captured on tape: Davis, The Kennedys, pp.
111-112.

Joe Kennedy quote: Ibid., p. 135.

4 Talk to ministers in Houston: Wallechinsky and Wallace, The People's
Almanac, p. 313.

5 Slim margin of 1960 election: Ibid., p. 314.

Comparison to Eisenhower: Ibid., p. 316.

6 Yarborough: telephone interview with author, summer, 1986.

9 Organization of motorcade: WC Report pp. 43-46.

Press car moved: author's interview with Dallas researcher Mary Ferrell,
1986. Her husband had loaned his station wagon for press use in the
motorcade.

10 Hollingsworth: "Rapid Bang of Gun Changes History's Course," Dallas
Times Herald, Nov. 23, 1963.

11 Truly: 111.220.

Lawson: IV.351.

12 Kellerman: 11.73-74.

Mrs. Connally: IV:147.

Greer: 11. 117.

Connally: IV. 133.

13 Connally's cry: WC Report p. 50.

Mrs. Kennedy: Ibid., p. 49.

Hill: 11. 138-139.

14 Decker: "President Dead, Connally Shot," Dallas Times Herald, Nov.
22, 1963 (Final Edition). "The sheriff said he heard two shots and `may
have seen one of the bullets hit the concrete and bounce.' He said he did
not see the other bullet. "

Ellis: HSCA XII.23.

Landis: XVIII.758.

Bennett: XXIV.542.

15 Hill: 11.138-141.

Powers: VII.473.

16 Mrs. Cabell: VII.486-487.

Yarborough: author's interview, summer, 1986.

17 Atkins: "JFK Assassination Film No One Wanted to See," Midnight,
March 1, 1977, pp. 21-22.

Hathaway, Lawrence, and Owens: XXIV.211, 214 and 220.

18 Mercer: XIX.483.

19 Smith: XIX.516.

20 West: author's interview, April, 1978.

Walther: Summers, "Conspiracy," p. 74; Dallas Morning News, Nov.
28, 1978.

21 Carr: interview with researcher Gary Shaw, April, 1975; HSCA XIII_8-9.

22 Bronson film: "JFK Film May Reveal Two Gunmen," Dallas Morning
News, Nov. 26, 1978.

Prisoners: "Witnesses Overlooked in JFK Probe," Dallas Morning News,
Dec. 19, 1978. Johnny L. Powell said "maybe more than half" of the 40
inmates in his holding cell were looking across to the Texas School Book
Depository and saw the two men. Powell said the pair "looked darker"
than whites and were wearing "kind of brownish looker or duller clothes
... like work clothes."

Similas: Harold Weisberg, "Photographic Whitewash," pp. 223- 235; J.
Gary Shaw with Larry R. Harris, Coverup, p. 51.

23 Edwards: VI.204.

Fischer: VI. 195.

Betzner: XIX.467-468.

24 Willis: VII.493-497; "JFK Killing Witness Not Surprised Tests Indicated
2nd Gunman," Fort Worth Star-Telegram, Dec. 22, 1978.

25 Brennan: XXIV.203.

26 Speaker: author's interview, July, 1987.

Terry: author's interview, 1978.

27 Truly: 11-1.220.

Campbell: XXII.638.

Mrs. Reid: 111.273.

Arce: VI.365.

Baker: VII.508-509.

28 Woodward: "Witness From The News Describes Assassination," Dallas Morning News, Nov. 23, 1963.

Millican: XIX.486.

Speaker: author's interview, July, 1987.

29 Mrs. Chism: XIX.472.

32 Witt: HSCA IV.432-433.

33 Kounas: XXII.659.

Altgens: VII. 517-518.

34 Brehm: Mark Lane's film of assassination witnesses, Rush to Judgement,
1966.

35 Nix: Ibid.

36 Oliver: "Area Woman To Testify In JFK Slaying Probe," Lubbock
Avalanche-Journal, April 10, 1977; Interview with researcher J. Gary
Shaw 1970; Nigel Turner documentary, The Men Who Killed Kennedy,
Central Independent Television, Birmingham, England, 1988.

38 Hill: VI.207; author's interviews, 1986.

39 Newman: XIX.490; author's interview, April, 1988.

Price: XIX.492; Lane, Rush to Judgement.

40 Oswald's job: WC Report, pp. 737-738.

41 Truly: III.237.

Frazier: 11.225-228.

42 Oswald's denial: WC Report, p. 604.

Dougherty: VI.376.

43 Belknap: Jerry D. Rose, "The Epileptic Seizure," Penn Jones' The
Continuing Inquiry, Feb. 22, 1984, pp. 8-22.

44 Wilson: XXII.685.

Dorman: XXII.644.

Garner: XXII.648.

Adams: VI.388.

Styles: XXII.676.

Frazier: 11.234.

45 Lovelady: VI. 338-339; "Time Gives Back Identity," Dallas Times Herald,
Nov. 21, 1971.

46 Shelley: VI.329.

47 Curry's quote: - 'Not Sure' on Oswald Author Curry Indicates," Dallas
Morning News, Nov. 6, 1969.

Oswald: WC Report, p. 600.

Williams: 111. M.

48 Norman: 111.191.

Jarman: 111.205.

49 Arnold: XXII.635; Summers, p. 108.

51 Baker: 111.246.

Reid: 111.273.

52 Oswald tells of Coca-Cola: WC Report, p. 600.

53 Mooneyham: XXIV.531.

54 Molina: VI.371.

55 Foster: VI.251.

56 White: VI.255.

57 Holland: VI.243; Lane, Rush to Judgement.

58 Simmons, Dodd, etc.: Lane, Rush to Judgement.

59 Skelton: XIX.496.

Miller: XIX.485.

60 Brown: VI.233.

Tague: VI. 553; author's interviews, 1977 and 1988.

61 Haygood: VI.297.

Walthers: XIX.518.

62 Stroud: Sylvia Meagher, Accessories After the Fact, pp. 6-7.

65 Zapruder: VII.571.

66 Timing of shot: WC Report, p. 105.

69 Film compromised: David S. Lifton, Best Evidence: Disguise and Deception in the Assassination of John F. Kennedy, footnote p. 557.

70 Newman: XXII.842; Author's interview, April, 1988.

71 McKinnon: San Diego Star News, Nov. 20, 1983.
Hudson: VII.559.

73 Hargis: VI.294.

74 Weitzman: VII.106.

Smith: VII.535.

75 Smith smells gunpowder: Summers, p. 62.

77 Bowers: VI.287; Lane's Rush to Judgement.

78 Arnold: "SS `Imposters' Spotted by JFK Witnesses," Dallas Morning
News, August 27, 1978; author's interview, summer, 1985.

80 Attempts to study "badgeman": author's interview with Jack White and
Gary Mack, 1984; Turner documentary.

81 Hoffman: author's interview, summer, 1985; FBI Airtel and memorandum, June 28, 1967 and April 5, 1977. (These FBI documents were
obtained Dec. 2, 1985, after a FOIA request was filed with the Bureau by
researcher J. Gary Shaw.)

91 Marguerite Oswald's reaction to HSCA: "Panel's Finding Pleases Mother
of Lee Oswald," Fort Worth Star-Telegram, Dec. 31, 1978.

Marguerite Oswald background: WC Report, pp. 669-681; author's interviews, 1974-1979.

93 Complaints on son's death: "Mother of Oswald Blames Officers," Fort
Worth Star-Telegram, Dec. 2, 1963.

94 FBI shows her picture: I.152-153.

95 Marguerite Oswald on Watergate: "Marguerite Oswald Not Bitter After
10-Year Infamy," Fort Worth Star-Telegram, Nov. 18, 1973.

96 Marguerite on payment: author's interview, 1974.

97 Lee's bed: E. Graham Ward, Transcripts 1: An Interview With Marguerite Oswald, Boston, Houghton Mifflin Company, 1973, p. 35.

98 Lee's favorite TV show: Robert L. Oswald, Lee: A Portrait of Lee
Harvey Oswald, p. 47.

99 Lee's Marxism: Ibid., p. 71-72.

100 Ferrie asks about card: Summers, p. 497.

Secret Service questions Ferrie: Jim Garrison, Heritage of Stone, New
York. Berkley Medallion Books, 1975, p. 103.

Letter of intent: WC Report, p. 680.

101 Oswald on communisim: Ibid., p. 384.

102 Oswald's military service: Ibid, pp. 681-689.

Oswald's absences: Edward J. Epstein, Legend: The Secret World of Lee
Harvey Oswald, p. 65.

103 "Race Car": Ibid., pp. 53-55.

"secrets" interest: Ibid., p. 68.

Oswald and "Queen Bee": Ibid., pp. 71-72.

104 Bucknell: Interview with Mark Lane, April, 1978; "The Assassination of
President John F. Kennedy-How the CIA Set Up Oswald," Hustler,
October, 1978, p. 50.

Hemming: Summers, p. 172.

Wilcott: "Couple Talks About Bad Days in CIA," San Francisco Chronicle, Sept. 12, 1978; HSCA Report, pp. 198-199.

105 Oswald's VD: IX.603; VII.313; XIX.601.

Executive session: Transcript of Warren Commission proceedings, January 27, 1964. (This transcript was classified "Top Secret" and made
public only in 1974 after suit was filed by a private researcher.)

Bagshaw and Connor: Summers, p. 155.

106 John Wayne: Epstein, p. 76.

Rodriquez: Ibid., p. 78.

107 Rhodes: Ibid., pp. 81-82.

Dejanovich: Ibid. , p. 82.

108 "Oswaldskovich": WC Report, p. 686.

Thornley: Kerry Thornley, "Oswald," p. 23-32.

109 Thornley: Ibid., p. 47.

Officer's reaction: Ibid., p. 21.

110 Thornley's comment: WC Report, p. 389.

Botelho: Lane, op. cit., p. 94.

Bucknell: Ibid., p. 94.

111 Oswald's letter and trip: WC Report, pp. 689-690.

114 Powers deployed: Wallechinsky and Wallace, p. 650.

115 Prouty: Summers, p. 205.

Oswald's letter: XVI.871.

Ofstein: X.203.

116 Defectors: Summers, p. 176.

Webster: Ibid., pp. 177-178.

117 Marchetti: Ibid., p. 174.

Otepka: Bernard Fensterwald with Michael Ewing, Coincidence or
Conspiracy?, p. 231.

118 Sweden: Summers, p. 557, Note 38.

Shirokova: WC Report, pp. 690-691.

119 Attempted defection: Ibid., p. 392-393.

McVickar: XVIII. 155.

120 Johnson: FBI Memorandum from A. Rosen to Mr. Belmont, November
23, 1964.

121 "Historic Diary": WC Report, p. 258.

Rankin: Warren Commission Executive Session transcript, January 27,
1964.

MVD funds: WC Report, p. 272.

122 Life in Russia: WC Report, pp. 697-712; author's interview with Jeanne
DeMohrenschildt, 1978.

123 Hoover warning: Summers, p. 409.

Marguerite Oswald: author's interviews, 1974-1979.

125 Didenko: Priscilla Johnson McMillan, Marina and Lee, p. 205.

126 CIA concerns: Addendum to CIA document, Nov. 25, 1963; Epstein, p.
138; Summers, p. 192.

New identity: Epstein, p. 139.

127 Relationship cooled: WC Report, p. 395.

128 Raikin: Summers, p. 217.

129 Marina Oswald: Myrna Blyth and Jane Farrell, "Marina Oswald- TwentyFive Years Later," Ladies' Home Journal, November, 1988.